The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-01
Be Polite to Your Children.

The other day we overheard q gen.
tIeman telling his grown son how on
the preceding Sabbath he had found
the hymn in the book and handed it
to his daughter. He remarked: "She
flushed as she took 1t, and was inn
mensely set up. I do not think ever
found the place for her before" She
always had been to him a little girl,
but her evident pleasure and pride in
his attention opened his eyes. Romp
and tumble with your children as you
will, treat them as babies, or the girls
as tom-boys, but please remember that
"there is a time for all things" and
when you are with the child before
strangers. a formal introduction of
miss Mable," with all due regard to
the little lady's dignity, will make a
warmer place in her heart than most
people can imagine. Papa and mann
ma are to her the wisest and the best
beings on the earth. There is also a
little woman growing in the child's
heart, with all the woman's dignity
and sensitiveness, and when mamma
and papa treat her in public with re-
spect and consideration, be sure she
will repay you in her graceful accept
ance of the honor.
In the street, or the restaurant, COM
ing home from church, or at the social
gathering, wherever you take the
child, polite attentions shown, in the
same way that they are shown to older
persons, tend to make the child love
and respect both father and mother,
and while they satisfy the natural
rN, c,,nI fl,i,,rc fhnu nrQvQnt
precocious seeking after them from
those outside of the family.
If the father is extremely careful in
such matters, and transgresses in no
way, when taking the daughter to
church, he quite certain that no boys
will pay her attention unless they are
fully up to the fathers standard OF eti-
quette. If the father at church, social
gathering, or place of business is OBJ
liged to leave the child for while, and
says, "Please excuse me, / will come
in for you," etc., he may be perfectly
certain that when later in life young
gentleman escorts her, she will de-
mand quite as much politeness and
consideration of him.
If one wishes to study the effect Of
politeness to girls, they can easily try
it when opportunity offers, by hand
ing plate of refreshments, or a glass
of water, to some child Of their ac-
quaintance with the same little defer
ential bow, or the same form of words
that would have been employed in
serving the bell of the evening. If
the child has not been treated too
much like a baby, and made to feel
that children do not belong in any
way to "grown-up" people, there will
be very decided flush of pleasure,
and the little one will beam on you
and warm to your conversation in
charming way.
Above all things do not snub your
daughters in public. If. when you in
troduce them to some stranger or
friend, the child ventures to say a
word or two of the commonplace re-
marks usual at such times, do not eX-
press any disapprobation.
When there is an opportunity to
take the child out coasting, to ride to
the village, to 60 down town in the
street cars, or to 60 out on any of the
errands where the girl may 60 with
the father, change the ordinary form
of invitation. Instead of telling the
child to "Get ready or saying, "You
can go, if you WISH" say, II would be
pleased to have you walk down town
with me-" In fact, as nearly as may
be, use the form of invitation which
would be given to an intimate lady.
I shall never forget the pleased, wo-
manly satisfaction that I have seen
come over a child's face when some
thoughtful friend has given such an
invitation. It reminds me of the look
I have sometimes seen when I have
lifted my hat to little lady an the
street.
In many respects father can make
his daughters. He can certainly form
their tastes, and decide in advance
what kind of men they will prefer to
associate with. If he neglects them,
they may have wild ideas of what
should he the external qualities of the
men with whom they come in contact.
Mothers may do even more for the
sons than the fathers can for the
daughters. OF n ''mother's influence
do not speak, but merely of her pow
er in moulding the manners and social
habits Of the coming man. While the
religious and moral influence of the
father and mother are of paramount
importance, the moulding of the exter-
nal man can not be neglected by pa
rents without injury to the child.
Personal and domestic tidiness are
receiving constant praises. 1t is said
of the man whose dress is habitually